Restricted Section: Term XXVI - Read, Reading, To Read

[sanalith.livejournal.com]

Activity: Read, Reading, To Read
Points: 10 points for your initial comment, 2 points for every substantial response, max 30 points
Deadline: August 30 @ 11:59PM UTC (Timezone Converter)

Details: Since this will be my only activity of Term XXVI, I wanted to both do something relatively simple AND take the opportunity to get to know you guy, so we're going to have a discussion post about our recent reading habits. For your initial comment, write at least 150 words talking about books you've recently read, are currently reading, and/or what you plan to read next. You can talk about any aspect of the books you wish, but some ideas would be why you selected the books, what you liked/didn't like about them, whether you'd recommend them to others, etc. For your responses, you'll need to write at least 50 words. Make sure you're saying something more than, "I read that book and liked/hated it!" Try to open a dialogue about what was good or bad, or even why you chose NOT to read it. Anything goes, as long as there's substance to it.

If you have any questions, direct them to the appropriate thread. As always, don't forget to sign each comment with your name/house or a sigtag.

Also, do remember that I wiped the roster clean, so if you have bonus items, make sure you register them HERE as soon as possible to earn your extra points. I won't be giving grace periods, so please double-check that you're good to go!

Comments

[schizophrenic0.livejournal.com]

Well, I actually finished about four books these past couple of weeks. Two of them were books I had already been reading for quite sometime, and two I read all the way through in a few days (I blame this on the fact that my computer died on me and it took a week to get a new one). The two that I had been reading for a while were two Jasper Fforde books: The Last Dragon Slayer and The Woman Who Died A Lot (the latest in his Thursday Next series). I'm a huge Jasper Fforde fan, so I loved both of them. The Last Dragon Slayer is a bit more in the Teen Genre, but it's still a very smart and creative story (and I can't wait for the sequel to come out in September!), dealing with magic and dragons in a funny and unique way (it was not what I was expecting it to be). I already had read the previous books in the Thursday Next series, so I had a good grasp on the characters and world in The Woman Who Died A Lot. I will say I was surprised to see pretty much no interaction between Thursday and the book world (though, from the sound of it, that's what the next book will have more of). One really great thing about both of these books (besides being really creative and unique) is that both series have a strong female protagonist at their core, which is something I always appreciate.

I recently read The Casual Vacancy as well, my first time reading it. Obviously, this was a big moment in Rowling's career, seeing as it was her first adult novel and was following her Harry Potter success. I know it got mixed reviews, but I thought it was good. I do have some criticisms with it. For one thing, there were times where the dialogue with the teenage characters felt a little forced, for lack of a better word, and even though there weren't really villains in this as there are in Harry Potter, it was painfully obvious who the "bad guys" were. It definitely did not end the way I had expected, and the ending was a bit unsatisfactory, but I don't really mean that in a bad way, if that makes any sense. It left me wanting more.

In addition, I also just finished The Hunger Games. I had been meaning to read it for a while, but never found the time. Having already seen the movie, I wasn't really surprised by much. I mean, considering the story is told in first person, it's pretty obvious that Katniss is not going to die anyway. But still, reading the deaths seemed even more gruesome in the book than in the movie (especially Cato's). One thing I will say is that the pace seemed really quick at first (I didn't expect for the reaping to happen within the first chapter) which seemed a bit jarring at first since I felt we had barely even met Katniss and established the world in which she lives, but bits and pieces began to fill in more as the story went in.

Right now I'm onto Catching Fire!

Colleen//Ravenclaw

[jamie-love13.livejournal.com]

When I first read The Hunger Games, I didn't expect to have the reaping come so fast -- and it definitely was jarring, but it was something unique and made me like it. And the death scenes -- while graphic, kept the story going. Which is something I enjoyed, creepy enough.

Also, catching fire is good but I found mockingjay kind of ruined it for me. It made me thoroughly depressed.

Jamie/Gryff/18pts

[la-loony.livejournal.com]

Catching Fire was really good. Though I have to say I loved all the books, I paced through the last 2 in 4 days or something because I just couldn't put them down. Curious to see what you'll say once you finished Mockingjay. Opinions are so far stretched on wether it's a good ending or not that I always like to read new ones. Especially when people just finished and don't just recall some things from their memories that might even be all mixed up.

Martine|Gryffindor

[evening12]

*ponders* I didn't find that they were clear "bad guys" in The Casual Vacancy. I mean yes, there are characters that I really disliked but I'm sure that they differ by person. Can I know who you would classify as a "bad guy"? I'm curious to know if they different from who I am thinking about. I really enjoyed the ending. For that type of book, it feels right that everything wasn't tied up in a little bow. But it's true that i was curious to know how their lives went on after that.

Martine//claw

[schizophrenic0.livejournal.com]

Maybe "bad guy" wasn't the best term to use, but I was mostly referring to Shirley and Howard Mollison (the older couple who were completely against Barry Fairbrother). I guess part of it was that so many of the others had some sort of change in them (Fats actually showed compassion about something, Samantha stopped being so self-absorbed, etc.) and they pretty much stayed the same. But, I guess that was the point :)

[evening12]

Ahhh I see what you mean. That's true Shirley and Howard Mollison don't have many redeemable traits or moments, but I agree with you that it was probably done on purpose. Although I suppose if I really wanted to think about it I could find them a redeemable trait or two...but they certainly not my favourite characters. Still I'm glad that you enjoyed the book! It surprised me that I enjoyed something that was gritty.

Martine//Ravenclaw